Sheet-feeding mechanism



July 15, 1930. A FEDERWlTz Er AL 1,770,483

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISI Filed Jan. 3, 192a SSheets-S heet 1 yf d. mmvrozet BY 4 m f A TTORNEY.

July 15, 1930. FEDERWlTz Er AL 1,770,483

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISI Filed Jan. 3, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IZNVENTORS 3 :4- vii; ATTORNEY.

7M0. BY yam f 1930- 'r. A. FEDERWITZ T L SHEET FEEDING MECHANI SI Filed Jan. 3. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ll/ l /ii llrllllllll I E 'V I 4/ a %VENTO R5 Mm M mg 45%;

# ATTORNEY.

July 15, 1930.

T. A. FEDERWITZ ET AL 1,770,483

SHE-ET FEEDING MECHANISI Filed Jan. 3, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 E .6. g 66 By M #41111 ATTORNEY.

July 1 5, 1930. V FEDERWITZ El AL 1,770,483

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Fil d an- 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INV NTOR3 By M%@zm% MQLQRQ/ 2Z1 ATTORNEY.

Phtented July 15, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THEODORE A. FEDERWITZ AND WALTER T. EAILEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- VANIA, ASSIGNORS TO STOKES AND SMITH COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN- SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA SHEET-FEEDING MECHANISM Application filed January 3, 1928. Serial No. 244,124.

Our invention relates to mechanism for feeding in succession, sheets of material for any suitable purpose, and particularly for feeding sheets of paper or the like in a machine for applying adhesive to the sheets.

In accordance with our invention, in mechanism for feeding sheets from a stack, as to an adhesive-applying roll, there is provided a support automatically moved toward sheet removing mechanism in response to decrease in number of sheets in this stack, which may be readily disengaged and moved from its actuating mechanism to a position facilitating the placement thereon, as by an operator, of a stack of sheets in aligned relation to replace or supplement a wholly or partially depleted stack. More specifically, the stack support during its movement to and away from operative engagement with its actuating mechanism and while a stack of sheets is being placed thereon, is carried by a member supported, as pivotally, by a fixed element, as a frame member of the sheet feeding mechanism, and preferably provided or associated with means insuring, upon movement of the support to its normal operating position, proper correlation between the stack support and its automatic operating mechanism.

Further and more specifically, the movable member is provided with adjustable fingers to effect proper alignment of the sheets and to maintain the alignment during the sheetfeeding operation as the stack support is moved with respect to its carrying: member by the stack feeding mechanism.

Further in accordance with our invention, the guide fingers for purposes of adjustment are adapted to be moved longitudinally of members adjustable in a direction at substantially right-angles to the direction of movement of the fingers, and preferably along the above described member for moving the stack support to a more readily accessible position.

Further in accordance with our invention there is provided a plurality of independent stack supports, each of which is carried by an associated member of the character above described to permit an operator to place a stack of sheets on a support moved or swung to a loading position while a sheet-feeding mechanism is removing sheets from a stack on a support being moved, as elevated, by mechanism actuated by the sheet-feeding means.

Our invention further resides in a system, apparatus, and features of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of one of the forms which our invention may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of apparatus embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view, illustrating details of construction of the stack-feeding mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a side-elevational view, in section, of the stack support and its actuating mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, of mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are front elevational views, partly in section, of the stack support and its displaceable carriage.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, plan view, of mechanism disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a detailed view, partly in section, of clutch mechanism associated with the automatic stack feeding means.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Fig. 1, there is illustrated an adhesive-applying unit G, of any suitable type capable of applying adhesive to wrappers or box wrapping paper or other suitable material, and delivering coated wrappers in succession, preferably at uniform intervals. For example, the unit G may be of the same general type disclosed in Nitsch and Federwitz Letters Patent 1,472,614 granted October 30, 1923, or in Stokes Letters Patent 1,611,693,

granted December 21, 1926, or in Federwitz and Bailey application, Serial No. 40,769, filed July 1, 1921, or in Davis application Serial No. 122,096, filed July 13, 1926, and more specifically of the type disclosed in Nitsch and Baker application Serial No. 3,316, filed January 19, 1925. In mechanisms of the aforesaid patents and applications the asdisclosed in Stokes application to whose upper end there is pivoted as at 8 the link structures 9 pivoted to the carriage 5 at 10, whereby the carriage 5 and the parts supported thereon are reciprocated forwardly and backwardly for each sheet fed by the cam 11 driven by a suitable source of power, and having a cam slot whose walls engage the roller or cam follower 12 supported by the lever 7.

Upon the vertically movable table or su port 13, is disposed the stack S of sheets to e removed therefrom in succession. Disposed upon the carriage 5 are upwardly and rearwardly extending arms 14 in which is pivoted the shaft 15 upon which are secured the forwardly extending arms 16 in which is pivoted the suction roll 17 provided at its opposite ends with gear segments 22 engage able with the inclined rack members 22 disposed in fixed position upon and with respect to frame 1. As is more fully described in the aforesaid Nitsch and Baker application Serial No. 3,316, the suction roller 17 is provided with a portion of enlarged diameter having a cupped face, not shown, with which communicates a suction port in continuous communication with a tube 23 connected to a vacuum pump, not shown. Extending transversely and secured to the carriage members 5 at opposite ends of the machine, is a bar 24 upon which are sup orted bearings for the idler feed rolls 25. upported upon the bar 24 is the tongue or guide member 26 whose rear edge is presented to the sheets as they are lifted by suction roll 17 and whose upper surface guldes the sheet to the feed roll 25 Supported upon the frame 1 and positively driven is the feed roll 27 between which and the feed roll 25, each sheet is clamped as it is withdrawn from the stack and fed by the rolls 25 and 27 to the feed rolls 28 and 29, driven and idling, respectively, which advance the sheet from the guide member 30 to the glue or adhesive distributing roll 31 and the coacting guide roll 32. These rolls advance the sheet unto the conveyor belt 33 which passes over the roller 34 as well understood in the art.

The suction ipe 23 communicates through the valve cham er 35 with the suction pipe 36 communicating with a vacuum pump. A spring 37 normally holds the valve 38 against its sheets thereby sealing the chamber 35 against atmosphere. A bar 39, movable with the carriage 5, periodically engages and actuates the pivot member 40 causing it to thrust downwardly on the valve stem in opposition to spring 37 to open chamber 35 to atmosphere thereby discontinuing suction upon the suction roll 17.

Upon the bar 24 are carried bearings 41 for the shaft 42 upon which is secured the arm 43 and the feeler or stack-contacting member 44. Secured at one end to an abutment 45 projecting from the bar 24 and at its other end to an abutment 46 projecting from an arm 47 secured to shaft 42,.is a spring 48. At its free end the arm 43 is provided with a spring pressed plunger 49 which is adapted to engage a fixed plate 50 upon rearward movement of the carriage 5. Secured to the side of the machine is a lever 51 whose forward end upon circumstances hereinafter to be described is depressed by the lever 47 secured to shaft 42. The arm or lever 51 is provided with a notch or step 52 engaging the free end of lever 53 pivoted to the frame 1 as at 54 and to which is movable plunger 55, upon which is carried the adjustable abutment 56 adapted to engage and effect rotation of trigger member 57 to effect as well understood in the art.

clockwise rotation of the pole supporting member 58 to effect as hereinafter more fully explained step by step rotation of the ratchet wheel 59 by the dog 60 operated through the rod 61 by the rock shaft 6. The ratchet wheel 59 effects the step-by-step rotation of gear 62 which drives through suitable clutch mechanism hereinafter described shaft 63 on which is aflixed gear 64 in mesh with the rack member 65 movable in and guided by the column support 66 secured as by bolts 67 to the main frames 1.

To each of the frame members 11 is secured a bracket member 68 pivotally supporting a swinging carriage member 69 provided with longitudinally extending slots 70 to receive locking bolts 71 of the adjustable cross-members 72 provided with suitable guiding means for cooperating with the ways of the carriage 69 to maintain the cross-members 72 parallel to each other and at proper angular relation with respect to the carriage. Each of the cross-supports is provided with a slot 73 receiving the locking screw 74 of the stack guiding and aligning fingers 75. The rear guide fingers receive in a notch in their upper ends, the weighted bar 76 which serves to maintain the stack, and particularly the top sheets thereof, in proper position. Intermediate its ends and adapted to be brought into registering engagement with the stack elevating rod 65 the carriage 69 is provided with a guiding member 77 adapted to position and receive the depending tubular member78 on the stack support 13. At its pivoted intermediate its ends a vertically upper end the stack elevating rod 65 is reduced in diameter to snugly fit the internal bore of the support hub 78, and with a pin 79 which engages cooperating slots of member 78 to prevent rotation thereof. To insure proper position of the slot, table 13 is provided with a depending projection 80 adapted to engage a cooperating depression or hole in the guiding member 77. The table 13 carries a pair of pivoted arms 81 at each end which may be swung to accommodate sheets of different sizes. To insure that the table and its elevating plunger 65 are in relatively correct position, there is provided the manually operable lever 82 pivoted to the plunger column 66 and having a cam face 83 which engages the carriage 69 and forces it to proper position with abutment or projection 84 in engagement with main frame 1. Movement of the carriage 69 in a reverse direction to a loading position is limited by the abutment 85 engaging the other main frame 1.

It is not possible to move one of the carriages into proximity to the elevating rod or plunger until the other carriage is in its loading position.

To lower the table 13 after it has moved upwardly by actuation of rod 65, the handle 86 as shown in Fig. 8, is rotated in counterclockwise direction moving rod 87 to the left against the bias of spring 88 to move the clutch member 89 slidable on shaft 63 out of engagement with the cooperating clutch member 90 secured to or integral with bushing 91 in which shaft 63 freely rotates and to which gear 62 is secured.

The operation is as follows: 7

The parts of the sheet-feeding and stackfeeding mechanism are indicated in Fig. 1 in their positions at the beginning of a cycle, the carriage 5 and parts carried thereby being in their extreme forward position. Member 39 is withdrawn from member 40 causing closure of valve 38 and therefore exertion of suction by theroller 17 which as it approaches the forward limit of its travel is brought sufficiently close to the stack S to draw up the uppermost sheet and hold it in engagement therewith. Thereafter the carriage 5 moves rearwardly, drawing the sheet along, accompanied by an upward and rearward movement of the roller 17 as induced by movements of gear segments 22 in the upwardly and rearwardly inclined rack 22. Simultaneously, the roller 17 is rotated in clockwise direction after predetermined extent of rearward movement of carriage 5 and roller 17 the valve 38 is actuated by bar 39, breaking the vacuum and releasing the sheet from roller 17, whereupon the forward end of the sheet falls upon the guide surface of member 26.

Continued rearward movement of the carriage 5 moves the tongue 26 with relation to the sheet. which is prevented from sliding backwardly by means not shown. This movement elevates the forward end of the sheet to such position that when the roller 25 comes into Contact with the driven feed roller 27 it is clamped between them and advanced upwardly towards the right and delivered between said rolls 28 and 29 over the guide 30, and thence between rolls 31 and to the conveyor belt 33 by which it delive: ed to a box wrapping machine or other destination. The rearward stroke of the carriage 5 is now completed and it therefore returns to its forward position indicated to begin the succeeding cycle of operations.

The rock shaft 6 imparts successive rotary movements to gear 62 causing successive small upward movements of the table or support 13 so long as lever 53 is depressed, which occurs when upon rearward and downward movement of feeler member 44, there is not imparted thereby through the member 43 and shaft 41 suitable break-down movement of the member 47. Accordingly as the height of the stack S decreases as the result of withdrawal of successive sheets therefrom the member 44 is deflected sufficiently to cause deflection of lever 47 and thereby cause resumption of upward feed of table 13.

After the stack S has been wholly or to a desired degree depleted lever 86 is manipulated to eti'ect disengagement between the clutch members 89 and 90 whereupon the table support 13 moves to its lower position within the guide member 77 by its own weight the plunger 65 continuing movement and effecting disengagement with sheet sup port extension hump 78 after movement of the cam 83 out of the path of the carriage 69, the latter may be swung about its pivot to an accessible position wherein the stack of sheets may be disposed upon the table 13. the guide fingers assisting in the alignment of the sheets.

The loaded support or table 13 carried by carriage 69 is then swung in reverse direction. its proper final position being exactly determined by engagement of the abutment 84 with main frame 1 effected by movement of lever 82 as above described. After movement of the table from engagement with its actuating mechanism and before loading, the second table and support with properly aligned sheets thereon may be swung into position and the sheet-feeding and stack-feeding mechanism operated while loading of the first table 13 is being effected by the operator.

Machines of the type described and referred to are adapted to coat and deliver sheets to the conveyor 33 at a hight rate of speed. Hithertofore it has been necessary to stop the mechanism for a considerable interval of time as compared to the time in which the stack was depleted while the operator replenished or replaced the partially or 2 wholly exhausted stack. This interval is reduced appreciably by the provision of a stack support movable to a freely accessible position. Practically continuous operation of the machine is insured by the duplex arrangement of stack scribed.

What we claim as our invention is 1. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a support for a stack of sheets having a member extending transversely of said stack and angularly displaceablefingers disposed at opposite ends of said member, means to remove sheets from said stack, and means to move said support toward said sheet-removing means automatically in response to decrease of sheets in said stack.

2. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising structure to support a stack of sheets, means to remove sheets in succession from said stack, means to move said stack support structure toward said sheet-removing means automatically in response to decrease of sheets in said stack including an actuating member efl'ecting disengageable operative connection with said structure, and a second member to support said structure when disengaged from said actuating member and movable to a region wherein sheets are disposed upon said structure.

3. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising structure to support a stack of sheets, means to remove sheets in succession from said stack, means to move said stack support structure toward said sheet-removing means automatically in response to decrease of sheets in said stack including an actuating member effecting disengageable operative connection with said structure, means to support said structure during movement thereof into and out of operative relation with respect to said member, and means to insure proper relative position between said structure and said actuatitnlg member upon movement of the former to e ect their operative relation.

4. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising structure to support a stack of sheets, means to remove sheets in succession from said stack, means to move said stack support structure toward said sheet-removing means automatically in response to decrease of sheets in said stack including an actuating member effecting disengageable operative connection with said structure, movable means to support said structure during movement thereof into and out of operative relation with respect to said member, stop structure, and a cam operable to move said structure support means in engagement with said stop structure to insure proper relative position of said stack support structure and said actuating-member.

5. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising structure to support a stack of sheets, means to remove sheets in succession from said stack, means to move said stack support structure supports as above detoward said sheet-removing means automatically in response to decrease of sheets in said stack including an actuating member eflecting disengageable operative connection with said structure, and a pivotally mounted member to support said structure during movement into and out of the path of said actuating member.

6. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising structure to support a stack of sheets, means to remove sheets in succession from said stack, reciprocable member adapted to engage said support and elevate it automatically in response to decrease in height of said stack, and means to engage and support said structure substantially at the lower limit of its travel, and movable to transport said structure into and out of the path of movement of said reciprocable member.

7. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising structure to support a stack of sheets,,.means to remove sheets in succession from said stack, a reciprocable member adapted to engage said support and elevate it automatically in response to decrease in height of said stack, and a second pivotally mounted member to engage and support said structure when out of engagement with said reciprocable member to permit movement thereof into or out of the path of movement of said reciprocable member.

8. Sheet-fecding mechanism comprising means to remove sheets in succession from a stack, means to move a stack of sheets toward said sheet-removing means automatically in response to decrease of sheets in said stack, and a plurality of stack-supporting structures selectively movable into operative relation to said second named means.

9. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising means to remove sheets in succession from a stack, means to move a stack of sheets toward said sheet-removing means response to decrease of sheets in said stack, a plurality of stack-supporting structures, and mountings therefor permitting said structures to be successively moved in individual paths into operative relation to said second named means.

10. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising automatically in means to remove sheets in succession from a plurality of spaced pivots and a plurality of stack supporting structures rotatable about said pivots successiiely into operative relation to said second named means.

12. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising means to remove sheet in succession from a stack. means to move 1? stack of sheets toward said sheet-removing means automatically in response to decrease of sheets in said stack, and a plurality of stack supporting structures selectively rotatable in the same plane successively into operative relation to said second named means.

13. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising means to remove sheets in succession from a stack, a member to move a stack of sheets toward said sheet-removing means automatically in response to decrease of sheets in said stack, and a plurality o1 stack-supporting structures adapted to be individually engaged and moved by said member, and movable carriage members detachably supporting said structures adapted to be selectively actuated to effect operative relation between said member and a desired stack-supporting structure.

14. Shcetfeecling mechanism comprising means to remove sheets in succession from a stack, a member to move a stack of sheets toward said sheet-removing means automatically in response to decrease of sheets in said stack, and a plurality of stack-supporting structures adapted to be engaged and moved by said member, and members detachably supporting said structures adapted to be selectively moved in individual'paths to eflect operative relation between said member and a desired supporting structure.

15. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising means to remove sheets in succession from a stack. a member to move a stackof sheets toward said sheet-removing means automatically in response to decrease of sheets in said stack, and a plurality of stack-supporting structures adapted to be engaged and moved by said member, and carriage members for said structures adapted to be selectively moved in intersecting paths in the same plane to effect operative relation between said member and a desired supporting structure and to prevent substantial movement of other stack-supporting structure.

16. Sheet-feeding mechanism Comprising means to remove sheets in succession from a stack, a member to move a stack of sheets toward said sheet-removing means automatically in response to decrease of sheets in said stack, and a plurality of stack-supporting structures adapted to be engaged and moved by said member, spaced pivots and carriage members for said structures selectively rotatable in the same plane about said pivots to effect operative relation between said member and a desired supporting structure.

17. Sheet-feeding"mechanism comprising means to remove sheets in succession from a stack, a member to move a stack of sheets to- Ward said sheet-removing means automatically in response to decrease of sheets in said stack, fixed members disposed on opposite sides of said stack actuating member, a pair of stack-supporting structures adapted to be engaged and moved by said first member, and a pair of carriage members for said stacksupporting structures pivotally mounted on said fixed members respectively and movable to efl'ect operative relation between said member and a desired supporting structure.

18. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising means to remove sheets in succession from a stack, a member to move a stack of sheets toward said sheet-removing means automatically in response to decrease of sheets in said stack, fixed frame members of said mechanism disposed on opposite sides of said stack actuating member, a pair of stack-supporting structures adapted to be engaged and moved by said first member, and a pair of carriage members for said stack-supporting structures pivotally mounted on said fixed members respectively and movable alternately to effect operative relation between said member and supporting structure carried thereby.

19. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising means to remove sheets in succession from a stack, a member to move a stack. of sheets toward said sheet-removing means automatically in response to decrease of sheets in said stack, and a pair of stack-supporting members alternately movable from loading stations into operative relation to said second named means.

20. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising means to remove sheets in succession from a stack thereof, means operating in response to decrease of sheets in said stack comprising a member movable toward said sheet-removing means, supporting structure movable toward and away from the path of travel of said member, and a stack receiving member adapted to be engaged by said movable member during feeding of sheets and to be supported by said structure during movement thereof.

21. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising means to remove sheets in succession from a stack thereof, means operating in response to decrease of sheets in said stack comprising a member movable toward said sheet-removing means, structure to support a stack of sheets adapted to be moved into or out of the path of travel of said member, means to support said structure during said movement thereof, and stack-aligning means carried by said movable support.

22. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising means to remove sheets in succession from a stack thereof, structure movable toward said sheet-removing means, a pivoted member adapted to be moved in a path intercepting the path of movement of said structure, and a support for a stack of sheets adapted to be engaged and moved by said structure and carried by said member into and out of the path of movement thereof.

\ 23. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a support for a stack of sheets, means to remove sheets in succession from said stack, means adapted to engage said support to 10 move a stack of sheets carried thereby toward said sheet-removing means, and structure movable in a fixed path adapted to transport said support into and out of the path of movement of said second means.

24. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising means to remove sheets in succession from a stack, stack feeding means comprising structure movable toward said sheet-removing means, a member movable in a path intersecting the path of travel of said structure,

and stack-supporting means detachably carried by said member and adapted to be engaged by said structure.

25. Sheet-feeding mechanismcomprising means to remove sheets in succession from a stack, stack-feeding means comprising structure movable toward said sheet-removing "means, a member movable in a path inter secting the path of travel of said structure,

stack-aligning means secured thereto, and stack-supporting means detachably carried by said member and adapted to be engaged by said structure.

26. Sheet-feedin mechanism comprising asupport for a stac of sheets having a member extending transversely of said stack and angularly adjustable fingers disposed at opposite ends of said member, means to remove sheets from a stack, means to move said sup- 40 port toward said sheet-removing means, a stationary member in alignment with said support, and stack-guiding means secured thereto.

THEODORE A. FEDERWITZ.

WALTER T. BAILEY. 

